Andover Wellness Group

Mobile service says it can help cut down on employee sick time

Karen Dybis / Special to The Detroit News

Forget on-site dry cleaners or hair salons — the latest trend in workplace-based amenities is the mobile flu clinic.

At least, that is what Andover Wellness Group President Ira Margolis hopes. The former president of a Southfield title insurance agency launched the Troy-based company in March with the goal of offering more than 4,000 flu shots to Metro Detroit office workers during the peak flu season.

Ultimately, Margolis calculates that Andover Wellness could sell the convenience of his service and provide up to 40,000 shots through employer-sponsored mobile flu clinics, boosting his employee count from its current four to as many as 40 by the end of next year.

“The bottom line is today’s businesses can’t afford lost revenue or productively due to the flu, and our service can really help,” Margolis said.

“On average, the shots cost $25 per person, which is comparable to what you see across our community at stores and pharmacies,” he said. “The difference is we bring the shot to your entire organization. It’s quick, easy and cost effective.”

In the United States, an estimated 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control, influenza can cause more than 200,000 hospitalizations and from 3,300 to 49,000 deaths a year. This year, the CDC is calling for influenza vaccinations for all Americans.

Still, some people are reluctant even to get vaccinated. They believe immunizations aren’t effective, or they can get sick from getting a flu shot. Margolis said he has learned that he has to sell his services in more ways than one.

“I have found in the past few months my role had changed from strictly selling our clinics to helping employers understand the safety factor of the flu shot first so they can make an informed decision on behalf of their company,” Margolis said.

Andover Wellness uses only preservative-free vaccines that are administered by nurses who work under the authority of the company’s medical director.

Here’s how it works. Andover’s staff works with a company to establish a date for a flu clinic and price considerations. The cost of the flu shot depends on the number of employees who agree to be immunized — usually between $25 and $30 per person. The company can cover the whole cost — which boosts employee turnout — or pass along some of the cost to its workers.

Employers also cover the cost of the nurse to administer the shot, which is about $50 an hour. Each nurse can vaccinate about 15 people per hour. Andover waives the nurse’s fee if more than 40 people are vaccinated.A couple of weeks before the event, Andover Wellness sends promotional and educational material and posters along with immunization consent forms. Clinics can be set up in a workplace common area or a nurse can walk around to individual desks or offices.

To diversify its services and offerings, Andover also conducts wellness-related programs such as health risk assessments and blood pressure and cholesterol checks, all of which can be done throughout the work year.

It’s a far cry from the housing and financial work he used to do, including stints as vice president of Midwest Home Mortgage and the CEO for financial consulting firm Oakland Funding Group.

While Margolis hopes Andover Wellness will be a shot in the arm for clients as well as his bottom line, he also has a social mission.

“I grew up in a family where my father was a doctor and my mother was very involved with volunteering in the community,” Margolis said.

“That helped instill a sense of wanting to do something professionally that could give back to my community and at the same time be a rewarding career.”

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101104/BIZ/11040354/#ixzz14K0dVDFm